Trousers stretcher and shaper



July 16, 192 w. H. SCHUMACHER TROUSERS STRETCHER AND SHAPER Filed Aug. 1928 2 Sheefcs-Sheetl INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1929- w. H. SCHUMACHER 1.720,970

TROUSERS STRETCHEB AND SHAPER I File d Aug. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z! Tfi'ZZz'ar/z II. le'kzlma z' INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented July 16, 1929.

UNlTED STATES I 1,720,970 PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM H. SCHUMACHER, OF TAM?.A., FLORIDA.

TROUSERS STRETGHEB AND SHAEER.

Application filed August 3, 1928.

My present invention has reference to what I will term a trousers stretcher and shaper and my object is the provision of a simply constructed device of this character whereby trousers either before or after cleaning may be readily reshaped and stretched in an easy and expeditious manner.

The invention will. be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accon'ipanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding. however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not afleet the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement.

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 5. Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line Jr-st of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a provement.

Figure 6 is a sectional view approximately on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view approximately on the line 7 -7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional. view approximately on the line 88 of Figure 1. The improvement is wholly constructed of metal and is yield-able so that the same will flex under pressure to both widen and elongate the device to accord with the different size trousers engaged thereby. As the de scription progresses it will be noted that the lower portion of the frame being removably associated with the upper portion thereof, permits of the employment of frames of different lengths and widths.

The upper portion of the improvement includes two oppositely disposed outwardly concaved side members 11, the said members being of a. determined length and being slotted so that the said members are in the nature of grates. The connecting bars betop plan view of the imtween the upper and lower elements of the top /members 1 are, however, flat, and the Serial No. 297,164.

arched members 1 are connected at their ends by parallel bars 2 which have their central portions connected together by a web There is pivotally secured to the upper corner of one of the sides 1 a link 4- andv this link has its lower or free end pivotally secured to clamping arms 5-5. One of the clamping arms has its end offset at its pivotal connection with its second clamping arm and the opposite ends of both of the clamping arms are also offset, but extended in parallelism. One of these ends has pivotally secured thereto a bolt) member 6 that is designed to be received in a slot 7 .in the end of the second clamping member and this bolt is adapted to be engaged by a wing nut 8.

The top member being comparatively wide will effectively EICCOlllmodate thereon the waist portion of the trousers to be stretched. and shaped. The

plates 2, adjacent to the ends thereof, are formed with what I will term downwardly extending arms 9, each of said arms having a socket entering from its outer end and in these sockets there are designed to be frictionally engaged the reduced extensions 10 on the side plates 11 of the main frames 12. The side members 11 of the frames 12 are gradually reduced in thickness from their inner to theiroutcr ends, as disclosed by Figure 8 of the drawings and the side members of the frames throughout their length are connected by transverse plates 13.

Received through bosses 1a in the connecting elements 13 for the sides of the frames 12 there are rods 15. These rods have their upper ends journaled in a housing 16 that is iixed on the web 3, there being suitable means for holding the rods from longitudinal movement. Fixed on the ends of the rods received in the housing 16 there are intermeshing toothed wheels 17, and one of the rods 15 has attached to its upper or outer end a hook 18. The book provides the hanger for the device as well as a means for imparting a simultaneous rotation to the rods 1.5., for a purpose which will presently be amp-arent.

The lowerv ends of the side members 11. of the frames 12 have pivotally secured thereon inwardly directed bolts 18 whose threads are arrangedv at different hand pitches and these alining bolts are engaged by turn buckles 19. By this arrangement it will be apparent that the side members of the frame may be expanded. or brought toill gether so that the edges thereof will properly engage with the legs of the trousers in which the side members of the frame are inserted. ribove the turn buckles there is arranged bet ween each of the side members of the fran'ies 12 a plate 20. Preferably this plate has its outer faces roughened, and extending upwardly from the plate there are the arms of the yoke 21. the central portion of the yoke being formed with an interiorly threaded socket and through these sockets there are screwed the lower ends of the rods 15. Each of the plates is provided with a pair of depending lingers through which the nouJhreadcd portions of the bolt members ltl pass this arrangement it will be apparent that by turning the hook 18 both of the rods l5 will be simultaneously turned and the \"icldable frames 12 will be longitudinally adjusted.

In. order to hold the trousers legs on the frames 12, one of the sides 11 of each of the frames below its connection with the bolt 18 has pivotally secured thereto a link 23, the said link in turn being pivotally connected with a second link 24: and the link 21% is pivotally secured between clamping arms These clan'ips are substantially similar to the upper clamps, except that the same are not bowed, one of each pair of clamping plates being provided at its outer end with a pivotally supported bolt 26 to be received in a socket 27 in the cooperating clamping plate and each of the bolts is engaged by a wing nut 28. Preferably the inner faces of the clamping plates are slightly roughened so tl at when the clamps are arranged on the frames, as disclosed by the drawings, the same will effectively grip with the outer faces of the trousers legs and compress the trousers against the roughened faces of the plates 20.

My improvci'uent is, of course, susceptible for use in households but will be found desirable in cleaning and pressing establishments. After the trousers have been cleaned and trousers made of flannel fabrics have been washed, the same can be readily arranged upon my improved stretcher and shaper and the parts adjusted so that the trousers will be both stretched and shaped without necessitating the ironing thereof. Because of the comparatively sharp edges of the side members 1]. of the frames 12 the trousers will be effectively creased and likewise because of the space provided between the belt line and legs ofthe trousers, when arranged upon my improvement, air will circulate therethrongh, so that the trousers will quickly dry. Of course, if desired, the trousers may be pressed. after the same are removed from my improvement but even in such instances the trousers are so shaped as to render the pressing operation easy and expeditious.

Having described tie invention, I claim:

1. A trousers stretcher and presser comprising two yieldable frames, whose side members are gradually reduced in thickness from their inner to their outer edges, spacing elements connecting the sides, a memier having its sides outwardly arched and slotted, inner plates connecting the sides of said member and having depending arms formed with sockets to frictionally receive therein the upper ends of the side members of the frames, a swingably supported clamp on said member including a pair of arms, and adjustable means for engaging one end of the arms for compressing the same against the arched sides of the member and for holding the waist of a pair of trousers against said member, swingably secured clamping plates on the frame having means or compressing the ends thereof against the frame for holding the legs of a pair of trousers on the frame, means for laterally expanding and contracting the frames and means for longitudinally expanding and contracting the frames.

2. A trousers stretcher and presser comprising two yieldable frames whose side members are gradually reduced in thickness from their inner to their outer edges, spaced elements connecting the sides, a member having its sides outwardly arched and slotted, inner plates connecting the sides of the said member and having depending arms formed with sockets to frictionally receive therein the upper ends of the side members of the frames, a swingably supported clamp on said member including a pair of arms, and adjustable means for engaging one end 0" the arms for compressing the same against the arched sides of the member and for holding the waist of a pair of trousers a ga-inst said member, swingably secured clamping plates on the frame having means for compressing the ends thereof against the frame for holding the legs of a pair of trousers on the frame, a plate having its face roughened disposed between the clamps, said plate having an upnvardly extending yoke whose central portion is formed with a threaded socket, rods guided through the member and through the con necting elements for the frames and having threaded ends which are received in said sockets, the upper ends of the rods having toothed wheels thereon, a housing for the toothed wheels, a hook secured to the outer end of one of the rods, oppositely hand pitched bolts pivotally secured to the side members of the frame, a turn buckle engaging such bolts and fingers depending from the roughened plate and through which the bolts are guided.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. SGHUMACHER. 

